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MANILA. — A boat carrying 189 people has capsized in the central Philippines, minutes after leaving port, the Philippine Red Cross said yesterday.

There were 173 passengers and 16 crew members on board, according to Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon, who spoke to CNN from Manila.

At least 38 have died, he said, and 134 survived. Seventeen people remain unaccounted for, he said.

The Philippine coast guard is leading the search, with divers from the Red Cross and the military involved.

The MB Nirvana had just departed Ormoc City in Leyte province bound for the town of Pilar on Camotes Island, east of Cebu Island, about noon local time yesterday when the disaster occurred.

The boat, which is 27 metres long, was barely 200 metres from the shore when it capsized, Philippine coast guard Lt Christopher Ganet said.

He said those who had been rescued were being taken to hospitals in the area around Ormoc.

Video footage from the scene showed people of all ages, including a small child, being brought ashore in small inflatable craft. — CNN.